Meet Fifties Fashion, Leger-girl and Derek. They're pantins (French) or jumping-jacks. They're operated by pulling a string which makes their legs and arms move like the Jumping-jack exercise. They are made of reinforced card stock and fastened with rivets.
In this drawing the Purple Person (unknown specie: animal? human? fantasy?) and The Dragon are puppets i made for my grand children. The other two are made commercially.